LIBERLIT ARTICLES

1) This society brings together and unites teachers who believe that literature has an essential place in the university English classroom.

2) ‘Literature’, here refers to authentic texts that use language in creative and careful ways to tell stories, convey impressions, express original opinions, pose critical questions and demand more than simplistic, pragmatic responses.

3) LIBERLIT explores, clarifies, and encourages discussion of attitudes and approaches to ‘literary’ texts in English.

4) The conviction is that literature offers learners access to the kinds of creative, critical, and non-complacent views of the world that are important for Japanese students.

5) Literature is essential at the university level, before students graduate and enter the workforce.

6) LIBERLIT asserts that it is unkind and disingenuous to deprive students of the marvelously varied, meaningful, and challenging content that only great works of literature and thoughtful authentic writings on culture can offer.

7) We want to explore techniques, methods, and ways that literary texts can foreground the roots of education, liberate English language into maturely creative uses and instigate a freer, bolder expression of original opinions.

8) LIBERLIT is an ongoing, constantly developing forum which attempts to establish how, where, and why literature should figure in Japan’s English curriculum.

9) Starting in 2010, a conference has been held annually in Japan, with panel sessions, plenary talks and other activities.